Mule Kick, Magnolia
From the time Mule Kick opened in Magnolia in 2018, the restaurant has built a loyal local customer base and become a popular spot in the college town for pizza, craft beer, and live music.
Christy Ouei calls herself chief cheerleader at Mule Kick. When she came to the Southern Arkansas University ASBTDC to build the concept of Mule Kick, developing and executing a unique customer experience at the restaurant was at the top of her list.
As Ouei built her management and employee teams, customer experience was woven into every discussion, planning meeting, and strategy session.
Over the years, the SAU ASBTDC has supported Mule Kick with startup and marketing assistance, business planning, financial forecasts, and market research. Janell Reeves, director of the center, recently touched base with Ouei to reminisce and take a peek into the future of Mule Kick.
Q&A with Christy Ouei
Q: What inspired the customer experience at Mule Kick?
A: “Burt (Adams, Ouei’s fiancé and business partner) and I were tired of getting less than we expected, or at best, the experience we expected when dining out.
We strive to give our customers more than they expect.”
Q: What can customers expect to experience when they come to dine at Mule Kick?
A: “Expect servers that smile as you enter because they are both happy to be here and happy that you are here. Expect music that makes you want to stay and new décor you didn’t see last time – or crazy ice cream like Flaming Cheetos.
Expect 30 taps of beer but not one of them is mass produced. Expect to have dinner prepared by college students who are preparing for work-life after college by working for a restaurant that makes tomorrow’s leaders our number-one product.”
Q: How has the Mule Kick experience evolved over the past three years (since COVID) and what can we expect next?
A: “Since opening, Mule Kick has offered various events and entertainment that have been ever changing. However, we hope that the attention to detail in how we treat our employees and how they treat our guests remain constant. Expect more of the same!
We have about 20 new business ideas a year. We flesh out about two of them, and if we decide they are viable options, Burt and I have long depended on the local office of the ASBTDC to help us make informed decisions as to whether or not we want to pursue the opportunity.
I would say that due to our relationship with them, we have managed to avoid chasing after shiny things and generally staying in our lane. That alone has increased our success.”
The XOXO Co., Camden
The XOXO Co. is a women’s clothing boutique in downtown Camden. The boutique is owned and operated by area native Skylar Paxton.
Paxton is an entrepreneur and fashion designer who trained at the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville. Skylar interned under former Project Runway contestant Brittany Allen in Austin, Texas.
At only 21 years old and with experience like this, it may surprise some that Skylar decided to bring her talents back home to Southwest Arkansas.
When asked the reasoning behind her decision, Skylar said she could not imagine starting The XOXO Co. anywhere other than exactly where her own start happened, right in the heart of Camden.
“I moved away from home and thought I would never come back,” said Paxton. “Little did I know how bad I would miss the small town of Camden. There is truly no place like home, especially when we have the supportive and encouraging community that we do. When I announced that I would be moving back to pursue my dream, the amount of support Camden gave me was remarkable.”
Paxton describes herself as a shy child until her mother put her in her first pageant. After that, Skylar’s love of fashion and design grew, changing the shy little girl into the larger-than-life entrepreneur she is today.
“Being on a stage, doing something that I loved, allowed me to flourish and work my way out of that shy stage. From then on, I knew that if I worked hard enough at doing something I loved, anything would be possible,” she said.
With plans to open her own business, Skylar contacted the ASBTDC in October of 2021, ahead of her May 2022 graduation. While completing her degree in apparel merchandise and product development with a minor in retail business at UA, she worked with business consultant Florence Nunn of the Southern Arkansas University ASBTDC.
Nunn helped her write her business plan and finish out her three-year financial projections. In those eight months, Skylar was able to make her boutique dream a reality.
The XOXO Co. officially opened in June 2022 and is thriving already.
This unique space is unlike anything else in the Camden area, and the boutique is one of the only retailers offering custom pieces for pageants and other events. Trendy apparel and accessories are available for purchase in store and online.
Teachers Support Teachers, Texarkana
Harris Creates Benefit Corporation to Support Arkansas Teachers
Juanita Harris from Texarkana, Ark., has taught kindergarten for 11 years. Over her career, she felt that educators were overworked, underpaid, overloaded, undervalued, overwhelmed, and underappreciated.
Harris decided to start a benefit corporation called Teachers Support Teachers in 2019 to encourage teachers. The mission of TST is “Encouraging the Hearts that Shape the Mind.”
When she started on the path to small business ownership, a benefit corporation was a foreign concept.
With only a handful of B Corps in the state of Arkansas, Harris turned to her local Arkansas Small Business and Technology Development Center for guidance.
Kristen Cribb of the Southern Arkansas University ASBTDC began to provide educational material for Harris, who received both her bachelor’s and master’s degrees from SAU.
The B Corps model fit her plans.
Benefit corporations have a unique purpose that differs from traditional corporations. While traditional corporations have a single duty to maximize profit, benefit corporations have the increased purpose of considering society and the environment in addition to seeking a profit.
Harris says the assistance of the ASBTDC was an invaluable asset to her.
“I was blessed to have someone with me from conceptualization to reality. The services they provide for free are worth hundreds of dollars per hour, if not more,” she said.
Harris attended the center’s Summer Startup Series of workshops in Camden before starting her business.
“Because of the sessions in Camden, I gained valuable information about taxes and how to do business. I am a better and more informed business owner because God blessed me to connect with the ASBTDC.”
Harris’ venture is steadily gaining momentum.
Teachers Support Teachers registered with the Arkansas Secretary of State’s Office on June 27, 2019. Because Texarkana sits in two states, there are two mayors and both signed a proclamation naming Dec. 8, 2019, the first official Teachers Support Teachers Day. TST launched a social media campaign on May 5, 2020, Teacher Appreciation Day, asking people to tag a teacher, thank a teacher, and pay for a teacher’s meal at the event the following month.
On June 27, 2020, a year after the business launched, the official celebration occurred. The business partnered with Southern Smoke BBQ and fed almost 100 educators at no cost to them. Texarkana got behind TST’s efforts in a major way, and the event was successful and complete with an incredible team of volunteers, balloons, music, and beautiful summer weather.
Teachers Support Teachers just hosted a gala on March 6, 2021.
Harris says the business lives out its mission by providing one opportunity per month for self-care for teachers and anyone working in a Pre-K to 12th grade setting who spends at least 85% of the instructional day with students.
One of her long-term goals is to increase teacher retention. She is also working on partnerships with local and state entities that will allow TST to reach at least 3,000 of the educators in Texarkana.
Harris also hopes to obtain a national trademark for Teachers Support Teachers.
To learn more about her organization, visit the Teachers Support Teachers website or Facebook page.
Van Hook Tire Center, El Dorado
Locally owned since 1947, Van Hook Tire Center is a full-service automotive and tire business located in El Dorado.
Nate Ellen started as a tire salesman in 2014. “My first job in the business was a subtle introduction into the tire industry,” said Ellen, who advanced to retail store manager.
In 2020, owner Kenny Van Hook decided he was ready to retire and sell the business. Interested in purchasing it, Nate contacted the Arkansas Small Business and Technology Development Center at Southern Arkansas Universityand connected with Janell Reeves.
She consulted with him on how to develop a business plan and financial projections, necessary to get the financing to buy the shop.
Ellen worked with Rob Robinson, community bank president at Simmons Bank in El Dorado, and obtained financing utilizing an SBA 7(a) loan. Reeves and Robinson guided Ellen through the comprehensive application process.
“The ASBTDC did an incredible job helping Nate put together his pro forma financials and guided him in developing his business plan. The ASBTDC is an excellent resource for small business owners and entrepreneurs that need to partner with community banks to get their businesses off the ground,” says Robinson.
In late 2022, Nate completed the purchase of the business and transitioned into the role of owner. He retained the familiar Van Hook name and staff of 22 employees.
“Becoming a small business owner has been a very challenging learning experience,” he said. “I’m fortunate to have Kenny still involved in the business as a consultant. Janell spent numerous hours helping me build and critique my business plan and loan application. Every element of the business was discussed and analyzed in detail.
“Without Janell and the ASBTDC, the hard work they did and the market research they provided, the process of purchasing the business would have been a much harder undertaking.”
Dos Caminos Bakery, Hope
As a child in Mexico, Estela Luna grew up making traditional Mexican sweet breads. She began to pursue a baking career in 2012 by experimenting in her home kitchen. In 2021, her son Marcos Santiago brought her dream fully to life by opening Dos Caminos Bakery, a Mexican artisan bakery, in Hope.
The name comes from Luna’s hometown, Dos Caminos, Guerrero, Mexico. The bakery offers cakes, cookies, and more than 50 types of scratch-made breads and pastries.
Janell Morton of the Southern Arkansas University ASBTDC guided the family through the transition from a home-based operation to a retail location, helping with business planning, market research, and funding options.
Market analysis provided by the center indicated that the bakery would have the best opportunity for success by appealing to Latino and non-Latino markets. Through its Specialty Services, ASBTDC helped the bakery with a plan to target both English and Spanish speakers and introduce traditional Mexican pastries and breads to non-Latino customers.
Julianne Murphy, a bilingual ASBTDC business specialist, worked with Santiago and Luna on a marketing plan and brand for Dos Caminos.
With her guidance, Santiago launched the bakery’s online presence.
Their efforts brought in 200 likes on the first day the Facebook business page was live, an initial post shared 22 times, and the bakery’s first sale using the Facebook platform. A search on Google for Dos Caminos Bakery brought up Yelp, Yahoo, Instagram, Google Maps, and Facebook all in the business name.
On Nov. 4, 2021, Dos Caminos Bakery officially opened its 112 S. Elm Street storefront in Hope.
Dos Caminos has a fully functioning website that can be viewed in English or Spanish. The online menu describes bakery items for customers who are not familiar with Mexican pastries with professional photos of the delicious treats. Customers can also place orders through the site for pick up at the retail location.
“My experience working with ASBTDC was great! It was organized and straightforward,” said Santiago. “I learned so much in the process with each appointment that we had. Learning new things is always fun.”
Hippie Drip, Magnolia
Entrepreneurship Major Puts Lessons Into Practice
While learning about business at Southern Arkansas University, Jaci Tucker decided to start a business.
The Crossett native graduated from SAU in April 2021 with a Bachelor of Business Administration degree in entrepreneurship.
Capped by the Guided Senior Experience for Entrepreneurs course, the Rankin College of Business entrepreneurship degree provides students with the foundational knowledge they need to create, market, and fund new businesses and products.
“When we were designing the entrepreneurship major, one of the things I thought it needed was a practical applications class that would give them a chance to pull everything together into a final project or a set of guided experiences,” said Dr. Tim Wise, associate professor of management.
The Guided Senior Experience takes students through building an online business or crafting a detailed business plan for a future business. Students work under the supervision of Wise and Janell Morton, SAU’s Arkansas Small Business and Technology Development Center director.
“The ASBTDC has either provided cases for us or, as in Jaci’s case, led students through the same experience businesspeople in the community receive as ASBTDC clients. I’m thrilled to have them available,” said Wise.
Pouring Her Heart Into the Business
Tucker wanted to build a business around her passion for art and colorful self-expression.
She began experimenting with resin and acrylic pouring techniques, and Hippie Drip was born. The Hippie Drip online store currently offers pour paintings, home décor, coaster sets, vases, serving trays, and more.
Tucker worked with the ASBTDC to register her new business with the Arkansas Secretary of State as a limited liability company. The ASBTDC also provided her with general business guidance, business plan assistance, and help developing marketing materials. Tucker has also attended virtual ASBTDC training events.
“Working with Dr. Wise and Janell made starting my small business so much easier and more enjoyable,” she said. “I really don’t think I could have done it without them! They both guided me every step of the way and encouraged me when I was feeling doubtful. I learned so much valuable information and was so blessed to have had the opportunity to work with them.”
In the future, Tucker wants to offer art classes that will provide a therapeutic outlet for people to explore emotions, develop self-awareness, cope with stress, boost self-esteem, and build social skills.
“Art is therapy, and I strive to share my experience in hopes of inspiring others to let their creativity flow,” says Tucker.
Check out Hippie Drip LLC on Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok.
